Last night, as Jiang Chuting lay on the roof gazing at the night sky, she was still vaguely thinking that Zi Que's child must be sixteen years old by now.
Unexpectedly, he saw the child in person today. He knew the child's name was Lin Zhi. In the Lin family, the mother is revered, and all children take the mother's surname.
Lin Zhi probably believed Lin Xuan's words and the rumors circulating outside, so he was very hostile towards him.
Jiang Chuting clutched his wound, blood dripping from between his fingers, and slowly stood up. Although he had been stabbed, he had no intention of retaliating. After all, he was Zique's son.
Jiang Chuting straightened up and said slowly and in a low voice to Lin Zhidao, "What happened back then wasn't what you think."
Yun Zique was the son of a servant in the Lin family. Lin Xi grew up with him and secretly developed feelings for him. Lin Xuan arranged the so-called marriage.
Yun Zique utterly despised the Lin family's ways, disliked Lin Xi, and was unwilling to agree to the marriage. However, his ancestors for three generations had been loyal to the Lin family, and his parents revered the family head and obeyed his every command. His refusal to marry the Lin family's daughter was like touching their sore spot; they flew into a rage, repeatedly berating him for being ungrateful and disrespectful, and even confining him for a period of time to make him reflect on his actions.
Yun Zique was emotionally depressed and eventually managed to escape from the Lin family. Jiang Chuting met him while he was on the run.
Yun Zique was handsome and charming, gentle and cheerful. He often teased him and loved to smile at him. Being new to love, his thinking was simple; he couldn't see the bitterness beneath the man's smile, or the unspoken words he held back. Later, when he learned that Yun Zique was engaged, he was completely incredulous.
Because he was born a servant of the Lin family, even if Yun Zique escaped, he would be relentlessly pursued by the authorities as long as the Lin family investigated. Trapped by his status and pressured and controlled by his parents, he was eventually forced to compromise after being brought back to the Lin family.
Jiang Chuting was not yet seventeen years old at the time. He was young, stubborn, and headstrong. He was unwilling to be abandoned like this and wanted to save him from his predicament. So, taking advantage of the large number of people at the Lin family's banquet, he managed to sneak in all by himself and found Yun Zique, intending to take him away.
Yun Zique was overjoyed to see him, but resolutely refused to go with him and anxiously urged him to leave quickly.
Jiang Chuting refused to listen and planned to knock him unconscious and drag him away. Yun Zique deliberately said some heartless words, which made Jiang Chuting feel wronged, disappointed, and angry. Her eyes turned red and she turned to leave.
Yun Zique, who had been urging him on, caught up with him in two steps for some reason, pulled him into her arms, silently shed tears, and kissed his lips tenderly.
This kiss seemed to carry an indescribable meaning.
Jiang Chuting was momentarily stunned and confused, and didn't even notice the approaching footsteps outside.
Suddenly, the door was broken open from the outside.
Standing in the courtyard were Lin Xuan, his face cold and stern, Lin Xi, her face pale, and many other guests who had attended the banquet. They had all seen the two men embracing intimately, their faces suddenly parting, and they all understood what had just happened. The guests were all martial arts practitioners, and some of them recognized one of them as Jiang Chuting, who had distinguished himself at the martial arts tournament, causing an uproar of discussion.
If Jiang Chuting were a woman, it wouldn't be so shocking. But he's a man, and a prominent young talent in the Nine Heavens, admired by his peers and praised by his elders, yet he comes to seduce Miss Lin's childhood sweetheart and fiancé on the eve of her wedding—that's truly outrageous, shameless, and utterly shameless!
Lin Xi fainted at the time, and only after hearing the servants' exclamations and chatter did everyone realize that Miss Lin was pregnant. They felt even more sorry for her and condemned Jiang Chuting's behavior even more.
The Lin family was embroiled in this affair, and the story became increasingly distorted, ranging from secret meetings to adultery, to catching them in bed together, all described in vivid detail as if they had witnessed it firsthand.
Jiang Chuting's homosexuality is known throughout the martial arts world, and his reputation is completely ruined.
Regardless of whether Yun Zique and Lin Xi's engagement was against their will, the mere mention of those two words put him at a disadvantage. Even if he tried to explain, to others it would only be seen as his shameless sophistry.
The same principle applies now when facing this child.
Moreover, Lin Zhi is no stranger; he is a member of the Lin family. Regardless of how the Lin family instilled the so-called "truth" in him, a child's heart is almost always inclined towards his father and mother. Naturally, he is willing to believe that others are the villains who should bear all the blame.
Over the years, he knew that talking about the rumors was pointless, so he simply ignored them. But he didn't want to see disdain on that face that resembled Zi Que.
Jiang Chuting said with difficulty, "When I was with your father, I didn't know he was engaged to your mother. The situation when I went to find your father back then wasn't as bad as the rumors say. Don't believe them..."
"Don't listen to what others say, or do you expect me to believe what you say?" Lin Zhi interrupted him with a cold laugh.
Jiang Chuting composed herself and looked at him, saying, "Lin Zhi, don't jump to conclusions about things you haven't seen or experienced with your own eyes."
Lin Zhi raised his sword and pointed it at him again, angrily saying, "Who told you to call me by my name?" His eyes flashed with mockery as he added, "So, you're saying my father lied to you? You're innocent?" This man truly absolved himself of all responsibility.
Lin Zhi had heard about this person's shameless behavior from his grandparents and maternal grandmother when he was very young. He had come to seduce his father before his parents' wedding and was caught in the act by everyone. The scandal caused a great uproar and almost caused his mother to miscarry.
His grandmother also told him that his father didn't actually love that man at all, but was just seduced and bewitched.
That's what family and outsiders are saying. Could it be that everyone's gone to such lengths, spreading rumors and gossip, just to slander this person?
The reason he was stunned when he saw Jiang Chuting's face was because this person was completely different from what he had imagined.
Even with a wound on his chest, he still stood tall and straight, his eyes clear and bright. Dressed in a blue robe, he stood like a pine or bamboo. A gentle breeze blew, causing his hair and clothes to flutter, and his temperament was pure and untainted.
She's neither alluring nor seductive; by all accounts, she doesn't seem like a male vixen who goes around seducing and bewitching others.
Lin Zhi was initially a little surprised, but upon hearing Jiang Chuting's sophistry and excuses, she felt even more enraged and her hatred for him intensified.
Before he was born, his father committed suicide. His mother has been depressed all these years and often stares blankly at his father's portrait.
His father's death and the harm his mother suffered were all because of this man!
He had never met Jiang Chuting before, but he had disliked and resented him for many years and had always wanted to come and make things difficult for him. However, his mother strictly forbade him from approaching the territory of the Nine Heavens and did not allow him to come looking for people.
He thought his mother was kind-hearted and unwilling to make things difficult for that person, but he harbored a deep resentment in his heart. Finally, he left home and found an opportunity. He bribed a junior disciple from the Ninth Heaven who had come down the mountain, found out Jiang Chuting's appearance, and sent people to keep watch on the only way back to the mountain. As soon as they received the news, they rushed over and attacked him.
But he denied everything, truly living up to the rumors of his shamelessness. He couldn't understand why his mother and grandmother had allowed this man to live until now.
Faced with his questioning, Jiang Chuting paused for a moment, then said only, "Your father has his own reasons." Yun Zique had indeed concealed the truth from him back then, but now he was unwilling to say anything blaming in front of the child.
Moreover, the child's preconceived notions about him are deeply ingrained. If he were to say that Zique was completely forced into marriage back then, he would be seen as sowing discord and distorting the truth.
Lin Zhi, impatient with his explanation, attacked again. Even if Jiang Chuting didn't want to fight, he had no choice but to draw his sword.
Lin Zhi's attack was noticeably more ruthless than before. His swordsmanship was already quite good, but it was still inferior to Jiang Chuting's, and he was eventually subdued.
Lin Zhi realized that Jiang Chuting had actually let him win earlier. Knowing his arrogance and underestimation of this man, he felt slightly embarrassed and extremely annoyed, but he didn't show it on his face. He first glanced at the sword resting beside his neck, then looked at Jiang Chuting, only to find that Jiang Chuting's warm and clear black eyes were staring at him.
His face seemed to be nothing more than a thin layer of mist, his gaze piercing through it all.
Lin Zhi immediately understood something. He couldn't tell if he was more angry or disgusted. He growled, "You damn homosexual! What are you looking at? Look again and I'll gouge your eyes out!"
Willful and reckless, still just a child. Jiang Chuting wasn't angry at his scolding; she was exceptionally tolerant of him. She subtly curved the corners of her mouth, and after a moment's thought, she sheathed her sword, flashed closer, and struck his acupoint.
"Past grudges are in the past, there's no point in you coming to me. Your acupoints will soon unravel on their own, then you can leave on your own." Jiang Chuting picked up the mask, and without lingering any longer, turned and left.
Lin Zhi could only stand frozen, gritting his teeth as he shouted at Jiang Chuting's departing back, "Jiang Chuting, don't let me run into you again, or I'll teach you a lesson every time I see you!" Out of the corner of his eye, Lin Zhi saw Jiang Chuting shake his head, seemingly laughing at his overestimation of himself. He puffed up his cheeks in anger, his eyes gradually darkening.
Jiang Chuting's clothes were stained with blood, which could not be hidden from anyone, especially his senior brother Chonghua, the sect leader. He had only been back on the back mountain for less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn when Chonghua rushed over with a doctor, and the other six senior brothers also arrived one after another, making the originally spacious wooden house seem cramped.
Before his disciples, his solemn and dignified master, uncles, and senior brothers all asked him incessantly how he got the injury and who injured him.
Jiang Chuting took off his shirt and sat there letting the doctor clean and bandage him. He looked at this senior brother and then at that senior brother, and finally decided not to tell the truth.
Back then, the Lin family's affair caused a great deal of unpleasantness in the Nine Heavens, especially since Senior Brother Chonghua held a strong grudge against Zique. If they found out that it was Zique's son who had injured him, they would surely be furious again. It's better to avoid trouble.
So they assumed it was an accidental sword fight.
Chonghua glanced at him a couple more times, as if he knew he was lying, then flicked his sleeves behind his back, looked away, and said nothing more.
After they left, a servant brought medicine. Not long after Jiang Chuting drank it, he felt a little sleepy and prepared to rest on the bed.
Wei Jia was initially a little unhappy to learn that the delicious food Jiang Chuting had brought him had been lost on the way, but he was more worried about his master's injury, after all, Jiang Chuting was the kindest person to him in the Nine Heavens. Seeing that his master was about to sleep, he decided to stay by his bedside.
He was almost asleep while keeping watch over her, but Jiang Chuting was still awake. He got out of bed, took a wooden hairpin from the box, and lay down on the bed, holding it and looking at it.
Wei Jia rested her chin on her hand and asked curiously, "Master, is this hairpin really that beautiful? Let me see it too."
Jiang Chuting smiled and handed him the hairpin. This wooden hairpin was carved for him by Yun Zique himself. After they separated, he used it to tie his hair almost every day. After a long time, he was afraid of wearing it out, so he put it in a box. At least it was a keepsake.
He used to take it out and caress it before going to bed, but Wei Jia always went to bed earlier than him, so naturally she didn't know about the hairpin.
"Oh dear, it is quite pretty, but don't look at it anymore. Get some sleep so your wound will heal faster." Wei Jia handed it back to Jiang Chuting. But before he could take it, his hand trembled and the hairpin fell, landing right on his wound. Whether it hurt or not is another matter; the hairpin was stained with some blood that had seeped through the gauze.
Wei Jia quickly wiped it clean with a cloth and returned it to him. Jiang Chuting took it and fell asleep holding it in his hand.
Perhaps it was because he ran into Lin Zhi today, but he actually saw Yun Zique in his dream after not dreaming about him for a while.
Moreover, the visuals were so realistic and continuous, as if it had really happened.
He ran frantically through the night, as if something terrifying was chasing him. His face was pale, and his forehead was covered in sweat. Jiang Chuting was anxious. Even though she vaguely knew it was a dream, she still wanted to help him and protect him, but she couldn't move.
He saw Zique hiding behind the artificial rocks.
Lin Xuan and two maids with gleaming eyes quickly appeared nearby. Lin Xuan's gaze swept around and suddenly fixed on the artificial rock. A sinister look appeared on his pale face, and he gestured for the two behind him to come over.
Zi Que pursed his lips, not daring to breathe.
Jiang Chuting's heart leaped into her throat as she watched the two figures approach.
"Zi Que!" He woke up with a start, and after a while, he realized that his clothes were already soaked.
He slowly sat up. His little apprentice was already asleep by the bed, drooling. He carried the child to his own bed, put on an outer robe, and sat by the bed, examining the wooden hairpin in his hand for a while. He pressed his fingers against his throbbing brow.
Why would I suddenly have such a dream?
It felt so real that he wondered if it was a dream.
Jiang Chuting's injuries were not serious, but he still stayed in the small wooden house to recuperate. Several of his senior brothers would come to his house every day and take turns sitting there for half an hour to an hour.
Third Senior Brother Ji Chun appeared to be sipping his tea, but his eyes kept sneaking glances at him. Jiang Chuting noticed this and smiled, saying, "Senior Brother, please speak frankly."
Ji Chun's chubby face twitched. He put down his teacup, and his smile had a hint of fatherly affection. "It's nothing else, it's just that... your senior brothers have found someone for you. He's about your age, not bad-looking, and has a good personality. His parents have also tacitly accepted him... Chu Ting, would you like to go and meet him, and have a chat?"
This wasn't the first time this had been brought up since he turned thirty. Jiang Chuting lowered his long eyelashes slightly, remained silent for a moment, and then looked at Ji Chun, saying, "Senior Brother, I don't..."
Ji Chun waved his hand and sighed, "Chu Ting, more than ten years have passed, and you're not young anymore. Whether you're a man or a woman, you should find someone to keep you company." Looking around the empty and desolate room, he said to him, "So that you won't always be alone, feeling lonely and miserable. Your fellow disciples won't feel good about it either."
It wasn't exactly lonely and desolate; Jiang Chuting had already grown accustomed to this kind of life. In the Nine Heavens, he practiced his sword, teased his little apprentice, and in his spare time, he would change identities and travel to various places to see different landscapes—it was quite nice.
However, his fellow disciples always took care of him. In their eyes, he had encountered such a terrible thing when he was young, and then he had a terrible disciple when he was young, and now he was all alone, so they felt sorry for him.
Faced with his third senior brother's concerned gaze, Jiang Chuting's lips moved, and what he originally wanted to say as a refusal came out as: "Senior brother, how about letting me think about it first?"
"Alright, alright, no rush. You can think about it, as long as you're willing to consider it." Ji Chun walked away with a smile.
Wei Jia overheard something outside and ran in, asking Jiang Chuting with a worried expression, "Master, are you going to find me a wife? Will she think I'm lazy or stupid? Will she scold me? Will she not give me anything to eat?"
Jiang Chuting looked slightly bewildered, patted his head, and said nothing.
That day, the master and disciple were sitting facing each other preparing for lunch when Yang Xia, the eldest disciple of Chonghua, came to invite him personally. After bowing respectfully, he said, "Junior Uncle, please come with me to the Jiying Hall. The sect leader requests your presence."
Jiang Chuting's injuries had not fully healed, and to make changing his dressings easier, he wore light clothing in the room, with his hair casually tied up with a hairband. Upon hearing this, he stood up and said to him, "Alright, wait a moment." He turned around and changed his clothes, replacing his hairband with the wooden hairpin that Yun Zique had given him. He left Wei Jia to continue eating alone and went out with Yang Xia.
Jiang Chuting stepped down the wooden stairs and asked Yang Xia, who was standing behind him, "Do you know why my senior brother wants to see me?"
The Hall of Gathering Heroes is a place for deliberation. He is a leisurely person in the Nine Heavens, and generally, even if there are important decisions, he is not needed. Moreover, unless it is something special, Senior Brother Chonghua would never disturb him during lunchtime.
Yang Xia hesitated for a moment before saying, "You'll know when you get there."
As soon as Jiang Chuting stepped into the Hall of Heroes, his fellow disciples were all there, each with a different expression. There were also two others who were not there. One was a boy who looked no more than eighteen or nineteen years old. His eyes were half-open and half-closed, and he was leaning back in his chair. His lips were dark, and he looked like he had been poisoned. He looked very weak, but his clothes were extraordinary, and there was an unusual nobility about him in his eyes.
The other one stood a few steps away from Jiang Chuting, facing him.
Before Jiang Chuting could get a good look at him, the young man had already knelt down with a thud, kowtowing to him with his forehead pressed against the ground, his voice slightly hoarse: "Mo Lin greets Master."
Jiang Chuting's eyebrows twitched, and she stood there stunned, not knowing what to say for a moment.
Only then did he realize why Yang Xia had been speaking hesitantly.
Mo Lin was his disciple who had left the sect more than seven years ago.
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It's not a particularly traditional ancient romance novel; it will have some other minor elements.
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